Margaret grew up in Lancashire and studied English at Oxford University. After graduation, she worked for a homelessness charity in Central London. Whilst working in partnership with several schools in and around the capital, she was inspired to train as a teacher.

In 2001, she was part of the first ever cohort of 'fast track' teachers and studied for a PGCE at the Institute of Education in London. She taught in South London for several years before returning north and taking up the post of head of English at Hope Valley College. She developed her curriculum leadership and began to support other middle leaders to consider the intent and implementation of the curriculum in different subject areas.

She led a school-wide project on retrieval practice and was awarded a national professional qualification in senior leadership (NPQSL). Following a year as an associate to the Senior Leadership Team, she was appointed as an assistant principal with responsibility for teaching and learning in 2022.